The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem, reported that Israeli soldiers violently attacked and arrested several Palestinians playing with snow, in Sheikh Jarrah, in occupied Jerusalem, amidst the current snowfall that is covering nearly every part of Palestine. Extremist settlers, who gathered in the area shouted slogans against the Arabs and the Palestinians.

The clashes took place when a number of extremist Israeli settlers started throwing rocks at the local Palestinian youths who were playing with the snow, and started shouting and cursing at them, while chanting racist slogans against the Arabs and the Muslims.

The Center said that the current situation in the area is tensed as dozens of settlers and soldiers are still in the streets, and that the Palestinians were forcibly removed.

Several members of the Israeli Internal Security were also deployed in the area ordering the local Palestinians to leave; the extremist Israeli settlers were not ordered to leave, the center added.

Silwan is directly impacted by Israel’s illegal settlement activities, while Israeli soldiers repeatedly attacked and kidnapped dozens of residents, including children. Extremist settlers are also responsible for dozens of attacks against the residents, their homes and property.

The Wadi Hilweh Center recently reported that Israeli soldiers and policemen kidnapped in the last 6 months more than 350 Palestinians in Jerusalem, including dozens of youth and children, and 13 women.

The arrests were mainly made in Silwan, Al-Esawiyya, Shufat refugee camp, the Old city, Al-Sawane, and Beit Hanina.

Most of the kidnapped Palestinians were released after being order to pay fines that ranged between 500 New Israeli Shekels (NIS) to 2000 NIS. In the same timeframe, Israel demolished on average 4 Palestinian homes per month.